Rev Hay’s Sermon for 3/22/2020

Mothering Sunday

In England, since at least the 17th Century, the Fourth Sunday of has been known as "Mothering Sunday" the day when was honored. It's also known as , the mid point of Lent when we check ourselves to appraise how well we are observing our Lenten intentions and observations. It was the day appointed for live-in servants who worked in the homes of the wealthy to be sent home to spend time with their mothers. Tradition said that of special type of fruit cake, known as , would be taken home and shared, a permitted interrupting to Lenten , or to be saved for . Mothers gave their children a special blessing, and this custom was so well-established that masters were required to give servants enough time off to visit out-of-town mothers - provided the trip did not exceed 5 days!

Simnel cakes are called such because of the fine flour (Latin "simila") they were made of. These cakes were baked and sold on Lenten Sundays in both England and France. The French baked their cakes muffin-size and drew sugar crosses on the top. These were their equivalent of the Hot Cross Bun. And so on this fourth Sunday in Lent normally we would be gathering to celebrate Mother Church.

Sadly, this year, the usual joyful milestones and traditions have been suspended and displaced by the worrisome Coronavirus which preoccupies us all instead. While all the church and State directives tell us that the precautions we must follow mean we are unable to gather together for church services foreseeably, and our bishop urges us instead to be creative about seeking ways to nourish our spiritual selves.

It is good therefore that the scripture readings set for today provide a powerful boost for our faithfulness, when we may well be feeling the need to be assured that God is with us always, and certainly in difficult times like these.

The reading today from St John (9:1-41) conveys a powerful message set in circumstances which would have been very compelling in Jesus' day. And, significantly, for us now, it revolves around a serious health issue of the day. Then as now instances of ophthalmic conjunctivitis were widespread in desert countries, and were incurable. Blindness was a real scourge, and people were fearful of succumbing to it.

So widespread was it that the Jews believed that when the Messiah came, He would surely heal blindness. The prophet Isaiah had said that the Messiah would heal many diseases: the deaf would hear, the lame would walk, the lepers would be cleansed, and the blind would see again.

As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been blind since birth. In Mark's version the man is called Bartimaeus. Jesus' disciples asked, "Teacher, why was this man born blind?"

What kind of a question was that!

Was it a rhetorical question, or was an answer expected? As with many things people say or ask, I suspect this was not addressing the issue that was really on their minds.

What the disciples were preoccupied with was nothing to do with speculating about a physical or medical cause of the man's blindness. In the culture of the day if something was that wrong in a person's life, it meant that you or your forbears had sinned badly so you are being punished or cursed for it as a result.

Some people still harbor a similar belief. In dark times they might wonder "What have I done to deserve this?" In desperate moments, some people pray, and bargain with God "If you take this away, God, I promise I'll do better." or even, “If this comes right it will prove there is a God”.

It was in this cause-and-effect thinking that the disciples were stuck. They go on to ask: "Was it because he or his parents sinned?" Jesus answered, "No it wasn't! But because of his blindness, you will see God work a miracle for him."

Because of his blindness. Because of his blindness, you will see... What do the disciples see when they look at the man? Do they see the blindness. A problem, a sinner, a son of sinners? Or do they see a person, in need, struggling to live without sight, and struggling under the weight of other people's judgment?

When we look at a physically challenged person, do we first see a problem to be solved? Do we reach out to help, without asking if help is needed, or wanted. Are we insensitive to their dignity by assuming if they are physically impaired they must also be mentally impaired? Do we possibly discount them by looking through them, talking about them as if they aren't even there? Does he take sugar?

Unfortunately the disciples fall right into this stereotype. They ask their question right in front of Bartimaeus, never mind his feelings - assuming as a blind man he has any.

Anyway, even if he understands, he probably won't be hurt, because blind men probably don't have feelings. Maybe he can learn something through them talking to Jesus, something that will do him good.

What does Jesus see? He sees someone for whom God will work a miracle, through whom God will be glorified. Much more than that, Jesus sees someone who will release the disciples from their own blindness.

Jesus touches the man, then sends him to the pool of Siloam. Doesn't take him, doesn't lead him. He can't see yet, but he knows the way. He can get there himself.

Later, when everyone else judges and rejects Bartimaeus, Jesus stands with him. In fact, He goes looking for him, and he makes him a disciple. In this long story, Jesus is the only one who sees a person, not a problem. Often when we see suffering - even when it's someone close to us, we see the problem, not the person. A problem to be solved, or a problem we can't solve.

And when the man in the story gets home, his neighbors don't even know him well enough to recognize him. They only know him as the blind guy, not a real person.

The Pharisees see another problem, and it's Jesus. Jesus has broken Sabbath law by making some mud with spittle, and then going and healing a man too.

Meanwhile, here's Bartimaeus, blind from birth, trying to get somebody to see what has happened in his life, and everyone just looks right through him.

Even his parents fail to share his joy. "He was born blind. Somehow, he got his sight. Nothing to do with us. Better ask him”

Jesus said, "While I am in the world, I am light for the world.... I came to judge the people of this world. I am here to give sight to the blind and to make blind everyone who can see."

During Lent the message is always couched in the symbolism of light coming out of darkness. And as we live through these strange, unsettling weeks, for however long this scary situation lasts and its dangers hang over us, as people of faith let us take heart and hold fast to Jesus’ assurance that he is the light for the world, standing with us and giving us strength to endure it.

AMEN